Starter mechanism



June 6, 1961 p opp 2,987,058

STARTER MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 6, 1961 P. E. KOPP 2,987,058

STARTER MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J40 J45 Z03 INVENTOR.

June 6, 1961 Filed Nov. 2, 1959 P. E. KOPP STARTER MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 2,987,058 STARTER MECHANISM Philip E. Kopp, Springfield, llL, assignor to Alfred H. Greening, trustee in bankruptcy for Richey Mfg. Co. Filed Nov. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 850,334 Claims. (Cl. 123-179) The present invent-ion relates to a novel starter mechanism, and more specifically to a novel mechanism adapted particularly for starting internal combustion engines and the like.

While various uses for a starter mechanism of the type contemplated herein may suggest themselves, the mechanism is particularly adapted to be associated with outboard motors. As is well known, such motors are usually provided with a recoil starter having a rope adapted to be manually pulled for turning and thus starting the motor, and means for rewinding or recoiling the rope. It frequently requires considerable strength to operate such a starter for turning and starting a motor. Furthermore, with conventional recoil starters, an operator must move to the back of the boat where the engine is mounted in order to accomplish the starting operation, which procedure is inconvenient and in many cases even hazardous particularly when the steering and motor controls are located in a forward driving compartment remote from the motor. Automatic starting mechanisms have, of course, been built into certain outboard motors, but such mechanisms are expensive and they may be impractical for use with many motors, particularly relatively small motors, and they are not readily applied to motors already in existence.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel power operated starting mechanism which may be easily and economically connected with internal combustion engines such as outboard motors already in existence.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel power operated starter mechanism which may be connected with and which is adapted to actuate a standard recoil starter in presently existing outboard motors and the like.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel starter mechanism of the above described type which may be mounted and actuated at a location remote from the motor to be started.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a starter mechanism of the above described type which is powered by spring means.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel spring powered starter mechanism of the above described type which may be manipulated to accomplish a plurality of starting operations before rewinding or reenergizing of the spring means is required.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view showing an outboard motor boat having a starter mechanism incorporating the features of the present invention installed therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken generally along line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 in FIG. 2 and further shows in broken lines the relative position of an operating lever or handle of the mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 5=5 in FIG. 7 and showing a modified form of the present invention;

2 FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 66 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally" along line 7-7 in FIG. 5.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a starter mechanism 10 incor porating features of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-4. The mechanism 10 may be mounted at any desired location in a boat 12 such as in a forward driving compartment as shown in FIG. 1. The mechanism is adapted to be connected with an outboard motor 14 and more specifically with an outer end of a cord 16 of a con-' ventional recoil starter which is built into the motor. Since such a recoil starter is well known it need not be described in detail. It is only necessary to observe that ahandle 18 is usually secured to the end of the cord 16 so that an operator may grasp the handle and pull the cord to turn the motor and accomplish staring thereof. A suitable spring biased mechanism is included for rewinding the cord when the handle is released by the operator.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 4 it is seen that the mechanism 10 comprises a housing including a base plate or frame member 20 and a cover having an end wall 22 and in integral cylindrical sidewall 24 secured to the base plate 20. The housing is adapted to be mounted against any suitable support surface by means of a plurality of screws 26 or other fastening devices. A hollow or tubular support member 28 is centrally located with respect to the housing and is provided with a reduced diameter end portion 30 snugly extending through an aperture in the base plate 20 and fixed to the base plate so as to prevent the member 28 from rotating relative to the base plate. A second tubular or hollow support member 32 is provided in axial alignment with the member 28, and the member 32 has a reduced diam eter end portion 34 snugly fitting within a central aper ture in the housing end wall 22 and fixed against a rotation relative to the housing.

Bearing elements 36 and 38 are mounted within the members 28 and 32 for rotatably supporting a shaft 40. As shown in FIG. 2 the shaft is directly rotatably supported by the bearing 36, and a hub member 42 is pinned or otherwise fixed to the shaft and is rotatably disposed within the bearing element 38. Another hub member 44 is pinned or otherwise fixed to an outer end portion of the shaft which projects from the housing, and this hub member includes a reduced diameter non-circular portion 46 on which an actuating or operating handle 48 is non-rotatably mounted for manipulating the mecha nism in the manner described below.

The mechanism includes a spiral spring 50 for pro viding power for accomplishing the starting operation. The spring is enclosed by a casing or drum 52 comprising one member having a radial end wall 54 and a cylindrical peripheral Wall 56, and a. second annular plate member 58 secured to the periphery of the cylindrical wall 56 of the drum preferably a cylindrical drum wall 56 is formed with a radially outwardly projecting flange 60 which is folded over the outer margin of the end plate 58 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The drum end Walls 54 and 58 are respectively secured to hub members 62 and 64 which are rotatably supported by bearing ele.-' ments 66 and 68 mounted on the tubular bearing support member 28. The hub member 62 is formed integrally with or secured to a ratchet wheel 66 for the purpose described below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inner end of the spring 50 is secured to the fixed tubular support member 28 by a fastening device 68, and the outer end of the spring. is:

Patented June 6, 1961 similarly secured to the peripheral drum wall 56 by a fastening device 70. It will be appreciated that with this arrangement, the spring may be energized or wound byrotating the drum 52 in one direction relativeto the fixed support member 28 whereupon the energy stored in the spring may be'utilized to drive the drum-52 in the opposite direction. The drum has wound thereon an elongated cable or cord 72 which has one end fixed to the drum and an opposite end secured to the pull cord 16 as shown in FIG. 1. Any suitable pulley or other means 74 may be provided for guiding the cable. The length ofthe cable 72 is such that it must connected to the pull cord 16 when the pull cord 16 is in a retracted or coiled condition and when the drum 52 has been turned so that the spring 50 is in a wound or energized condition. Thus, when the starter is actuated to permit the spring 50 to drive the drum 52 forwardly, the cable 72 is wound on the drum and the pull cord 16 is drawn outwardly to start the motor 14.

The starter mechanism is provided with means controlled or manipulated by the operating handle 48 for turning the drum 52 to rewind or energize the spring 50 and for subsequently releasing the drum so as to permit it to be driven by the spring to accomplish the starting operation. More specifically, a lever 76 is mounted on a non-circular reduced diameter portion 78 of the hub member 42 so that the lever 76 will pivot in unison with the operating handle 48 when the handle is manually manipulated by an operator in the manner described below. a

' A bifurcated pall 80 embraces an outer end portion of the lever 76 and includes arm portions 79 and 81 pivotally connected to the outer end of the lever 76 by a pin 82. One end 84 of-the pall projects for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 66 as shown in FIG. 3, and a tension spring 86 extends between an opposite end of the pall and a finger portion 88 of the lever 76 for normally biasing the pall for engagement with the ratchet wheel. Thus, when the operating handle 48 is pivoted in a clockwise direction and is viewed in FIG. 3, the pall 80 engages and drives the ratchet wheel 66 which in turn drives the drum 52 for rewinding or reenergizing the spring 50.

. A second pall 90 is provided for engaging the ratchet wheel 66 and retaining the ratchet wheel and thus the spring drum in the rewound or reenergized condition until the pall 90 is manually shifted in the manner described below to permit the drum to be driven during a starting operation. The pall 90 is pivotally mounted on a pin 92 supported between frame members 94 and 96 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, which frame members are suitably mounted within a housing of the mechanism. A tension spring 98 extends between an end of the pall 90 opposite from the ratchet wheel engageable portion 100 thereof and a pin 102 secured between the frame members-$4 and 96 for normally biasing the pall for engagement with the ratchet wheel.

. In order to release the ratchet wheel to accomplish the starting operation, the mechanism is provided with means for lifting the palls 80 and 90 from the ratchet wheel when the handle 48 is moved forwardly past a predetermined position fixed by a stop element 104 secured to and projecting forwardly from the wall 22 of the housing. A latch member 106 is shiftably mounted on the operating handle 48 for engagement with the stop or abutment element 104 for limiting movement of the handle 48. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the latch element 106 is mounted for movement between radially extended and retracted positions on the handle member by means of a pin 108 fixed to the latch element and extending through an elongated slot 110 in the arm. When the latch member is in the radially retracted position shown in FIG. 4, a side edge portion 112 fthereof is presented for engagement with the stop element-'104-so 4 as to limit movement of the handle 48 in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4 in a manner which prevents release of the ratchet wheel and starting of the motor. Thus with the latch member in the retracted position, the handle 48 may be oscillated back and forth in order to wind or reenergize the spring without danger of accidental release of the ratchet wheel and spring drum. However, when the latch member 106 is shifted radially outwardly from the position shown in FIG. 4, the edge portion 112 is no longer engageable with the stop element and the handle 48 may be moved in a counterclockwise direction until an axially inwardly projecting finger 114 of the latch element which is olfset from'the surface 112 engages the stop. When the handle 48 is. moved to this position, the means described below functions to disengage the palls from the ratchet wheel and thus release the spring drum 52 to initiate a starting operation.

The means for disengaging the palls from the ratchet wheel when the operating arm 48 is shifted to the starting position comprises a fixed pin or abutment 116 located on the frame member 94 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 for engagement with a cam surface 118 of the pall 80. The arrangement is such that when the operating handle 48 and lever 76 are moved from the position shown in FIG. 3 in a counterclockwise direction to the starting position of the arm, the pin 16 engages the pall and lifts it from the ratchet wheel. Another pin 120 is carried by a portion 122 of the lever 76 which projects in a counterclockwise direction, which pin is adapted to engage an outwardly projecting finger portion 124 of the pall 90 for rotating the pall in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 and thus lifting the pall from engagement with the ratchet wheel.

A brief rsum of the manner in which the apparatus described above functions is as follows. Assuming the spring 50 to be unwound or deenergized, it will be appreciated that a substantial portion of the cable 72 will be wound on the drum 52 and the pull cord 16 will be in an extended condition. Further assuming the operating lever 48 and the latch 106 to be in the position shown in FIG. 4 and restrained against movement in a counterclockwise direction by the stop 104, the spring 50 may be rewound or reenergized by oscillating the handle 48 rearwardly of the stop element 104. As the spring is wound, the recoil starter unit of the motor 14 retracts the pull cord 16 and draws the cable or cord 72 outwardly from the drum 52. Upon completion of the rewinding operation, the motor may be started by shifting the latch element 106 radially outwardly and then pivoting the handle 48 forwardly or in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 4 so as to manipulate the palls to release the ratchet wheel and spring drum in the manner described above.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, a starter mechanism is shown which incorporates a modified form of the present invention and may be mounted in the boat 12 and connected with the pull cord 16 of the motor 14 in place of the above described starter mechanism 10. The starter mechanism 130 serves to start the motor 14 in the same manner as the above described mechanism 10, but this embodiment has an advantage in that it is constructed so that it may function to perform a plurality of starting operations before rewinding or reenergizing of its spring 18 necessary.

As shown in FIG. 5, the starter mechanism 30 comprises a housing 132 having an end wall 134 and a peripheral cylindrical wall portion 136. An end plate 138 is secured to and closes an open end of the housing member 132. A main shaft 140 extends between the opposite ends 134 and 138 of the housing means and is rotatably supported by bearings 142 and 144. A hub member 146 is pinned or otherwise fixed to the shaft 140 and is surrounded by a main drive spiral spring 148 having its inner end welded or otherwise fixed to the hub memher as at 150. Spring casing means 152 surrounds the spring and has a peripheral wall welded or otherwise secured to an' outer end of the spring as at 154. Opposite side or end walls 156 and 158 of the spring casing are respectively welded or otherwise secured to-hub members 160 and 162.

The hub members 160 and 162 are mounted so that they and thus the spring casing are rotatable relative to the shaft 140. Thus the hub member 160 is rotatably mounted on a bearing sleeve 164 which in turn is mounted on another hub member 166 which serves purposes described fully below. The hub member 166 is mounted on another bearing sleeve 168 surrounding the shaft 140 so that it is also rotatable relative to the shaft 140. Thus the hub member 160 is rotatably mounted on a bearing sleeve 164 which in turn is mounted on another hub member 166 which serves purposes described fully below. The hub member 166 is mounted on another bearing sleeve 168 surrounding the shaft 140 so that it is also rotatable relative to the shaft. The hub member 162 is similarly mounted on a bearing sleeve 170 surrounding the shaft.

The shaft 140 and therefore the inner end of the spring 148 are normally afiixed against rotation by releasable means described in detail below, and the spring is wound or energized by rotating the casing 152 relative to the shaft. In order to wind or energize the spring, a crank 172 is provided which crank may be permanently or detachably secured to the outer end of the shaft 174 extending between the sides 134 and 138 of the casing. A pinion 176 on the shaft 174 meshes with and drives an idler gear 178 when the shaft 174 is manually rotated by means of the crank 172. The idler gear in turn drives a gear 180 which is fixed with respect to and drives the spring casing in order to tighten the spring. In order to retain the spring casing against reverse rotation, a ratchet wheel 182 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is fixed to the hub member 162 and is engaged by a pall 184 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 186 secured to the housing end plate 138.

The hub member 166 carries and is welded or otherwise fixed to a pulley or drum 188 on which is wound a cable 190. The cable 190 extends from the housing and is adapted to be connected to the pull cord 16 of the outboard motor in the same manner as the cable 72 described above. It is to be noted that in this embodiment, the cable pulley or drum is rotatable relative to the spring casing 152 whereby the pulley may be manipulated in the manner described fully below both forwardly and backwardly to pull the starter cord 16 during the starting operation and to permit the recoil mechanism of the motor 14 to retract the cord 16. In order to provide means for driving the hub member 166 and thus the cable pulley, the hub member is secured to or integrally formed with a ratchet wheel 192. A pall 194 shown in FIG. 7 is disposed for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 192. The pall 194 is pivotally carried by one of a plurality of pins 196 extending between and interconnecting an annular plate 198 and a flange 200 extending from a hub 202. A spring 204 shown in FIG. 7 is also secured between the flange 200 and the plate 198 for biasing a finger portion 206 of the pall radially inwardly for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 192.

The hub member 202 is pinned or otherwise fixed to the shaft 140 so that when the shaft is driven during a motor starting operation a driving connection between the shaft and the pulley 188 is provided by the flange 200, the pall 194 and the ratchet wheel 192. However releasable latching means is provided for retaining the shaft 140 against rotation during the intervals between motor starting operations. This means comprises the above mentioned pall 194 which is not only engageable with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 192 but which is also adapted to be pivoted outwardly and disengage from the teeth. The outward pivotal movement of the pall is limited by a stop pin 208 shown in FIG.7 and mounted between the flange 200 and the annular plate 193. The pall 194 comprises a projecting abutment or dog 210 at an end thereof op" posite from the ratchet wheel engageable finger portion 206, which abutment is adapted to be engaged by a free end portion of a latching lever 212 having an opposite end pivotally mounted on a pin 214. As shown in FIG. 5 the pin 214 is mounted between the housing end 134 and an internal annular frame member 216 mounted within the housing.

It is to be noted that the arrangement of the abutment 210 and the lever 212 is such that when the lever 212 engages the abutment as shown in FIG. 7, forward rotation of the pall carrying assembly and thus the shaft is arrested and the pall 194 is pivoted outwardly against the action of the spring 204 and disengaged from the ratchet wheel 192. This enables the cable pulley 188 to rotate freely in a reverse direction to permit the recoil starter mechanism of the motor 14 to rewind the pull cord 16. A spring element 218 mounted on a pin 2220 supported between the housing and wall 134 and the frame member 216 may be provided for biasing the lever' 212 to a position in which it is engageable with the pall 194.

In order to initiate a motor starting operation after the spring 148 has been wound in the manner described above, it is merely necessary to disengage the lever 212 from the abutment 210 of the pall 194. When this occurs the pall is biased by the spring 204 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 192 and the pall carrying assembly and shaft 140 are free to rotate for driving the ratchet wheel 192 and thus the cable pulley or drum 188 to wind the cable on the pulley and pull the cord 16 for starting the motor. Any suitable means may be provided for manually disengaging the lever 212 from the pall in order to initiate the starting operation. As indicated in FIG. 7, such means may include a lever 222 pivotally mounted on a pin 224 and having an outer end projecting outwardly from the housing. An inner end of the lever is connected by means of a link 226 to the lever 214 so that when the lever 222 is pivoted forwardly or in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7, the lever 212 is disengaged from the pall. Spring means 228 may be pro vided for normally retaining the lever 222 in a retracted position.

As indicated above, an important feature of this embodiment is that it is constructed so that a plurality of starting operations may be accomplished before rewinding of the spring 138 is necessary. Thus, the mechanism is provided with means for holding the lever 212 out of engagement with the pall for a predetermined interval and for subsequently permitting the lever 212 to reengage the abutment 210 of the pall while the spring 148 is still sufiiciently energized to accomplish additional starting operations. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, this means comprises a rotary cam 230 rotatably supported on a shaft 232 and disposed for engagement with a cam follower portion 234 fixed to or formed integrally with the lever 212.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cam 230 is formed with a reduced diameter or low surface portion 236 and a high surface portion or arcuate lobe 238. These portions of the cam are formed so that when the surface 236 is rotated for engagement with the cam follower 234, the lever 212 is shifted into engagement with the pall 194. However. during the portion of the rotation of the cam 230 when the lobe 238 is presented for engagement with the cam follower 234, the lever 212 is held in a outer position and out of engagement with the pall 194.

Gearing is provided for rotating the cam 230 in timed relationship with the rotation of the cable pulley. This gearing comprises a pinion 240 fixed on the hub member 202 and meshing with a gear 242 which is fixed to a hub portion 244 of the cam 230. It will be appreciated that with this structure, a motor starting operation may be initiated by manipulating the lever 222 and after the lobe 238 of the cam 230 has retained the lever 212 out of engagement with the pall during a predetermined number of revolutions of the cable pulley, the lower surface of the cam is presented to the cam follower and the lever moves into engagement with the abutment 210 of the pall to arrest further rotation of the main shaft 140 and to permit the above described reverse rotation of the pulley. While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A starter mechanism for an internal combustion engine comprising rotatable means, an elongated flexible element connected with said rotatable means and connectable with an engine to be started, spring means operatively connected with said rotatable means for driving the rotatable means for winding said element thereon during a starting operation, and means for arresting driving of said rotatable means after a predetermined amount of rotation thereof for enabling the mechanism to accomplish a plurality of starting operations without requiring reenergizing of said spring means.

' 2. A starter mechanism, as defined in claim 1, which includes means providing a one way connection between said rotatable means and said spring means for enabling reversed rotation of the rotatable means for withdrawing said flexible element therefrom at the end of any starting operation.

3. A starter mechanism for starting an internal combustion engine comprising a rotatably supported shaft, a spiral spring encircling said shaft and having an inner end portion fixed with respect to said shaft, means for energizing said spring for driving said shaft, pulley means supported for rotation relative to said shaft, an elongated element connected with said pulley means and extending for connection with an engine to be started, means providing a one way driving connection between said shaft and said pulley means, and means for releasably restraining said shaft against rotation and for disconnecting said shaft from the pulley means when the shaft is so restrained and for stopping said shaft after the shaft has been re-.

leased and has rotated said pulley means a predetermined; amount substantially less than the total amount which. the pulley means may be rotated when the spring means.

is fully energized.

4. A starter mechanism, as defined in claim 3, wherein said means providing said one way driving connection comprises a ratchet wheel fixed with respect to and rotatable with said pulley means, a member fixed on shaft adjacent said ratchet wheel and extending radially therefrom, a pawl pivotally connected to said radially extending member and engageable with said ratchet wheel, said means for releasably restraining and for stopping said shaft comprising a lever supported on fixed pivot means and engageable with said pawl for shifting the pawl out of engagement with said ratchet wheel and for preventing rotation of said shaft, means for manually disengaging said lever from said pawl to initiate an engine starting operation, rotary cam means for maintaining said lever out of engagement with said pawl for a predetermined interval, and means for driving said cam means in timed relationship with said shaft.

5. A starter mechanism, as defined in claim 4, wherein said means for energizing said spring means comprises a case structure fixed to an outer end portion of said spring means and rotatable relative to said shaft, manually operable gearing means for rotating said case structure for energizing the spring, and ratchet means for preventing reverse rotation of said case structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,216,376 Teves Feb. 20, 1917 1,557,184 Muller Oct. 13, 1925 2,097,729 Mall Nov. 2, 1937 2,690,234 Sharp Sept. 28, 1954 2,876,645 Schuh Mar. 10, 1959. 2,903,903 Iarom y Sept. 15, 1959 

